Furnace for heaters.



No. 657,7I3. Patented Sept ll, I900. 13. B. THOMPSON.

FURNACE FDR HEATERS.

(Application filed Feb. 19, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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CHARLES E. THOMPSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN RADIATOR COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

FURNACE IFOIR HEATERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 657.713, dated September 1 1, 1900.

Application filed February 19, 1900- Serial No. 5,736. (No model.)

ZoaZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces for Heaters, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which--- Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a hot-water heater containing the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a detail of certain parts of the furnace.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved form of furnace, with a view to securing as nearly as possible a perfect combustion of the fuel.

A further object is to provide as an article of manufacture an attachment which may be introduced into and form a part of heatingfurnaces already in service, whereby the former object may be secured therein.

The invention consists in providing the heating-furnace with an air-feed flue forming the side walls of the lower portion of its fire-chamber and discharging into the latter a short distance above the grate.

The invention is applicable alike to hot-air, hot-water, or steam heaters of any type. In the drawings I have shown the invention as being applied to a hot-water heater of common form, the base-ring being shown at 10, the grate at 11, the fire-pot at 12, and constituting the inner wall of the lowest water-section 13, a plurality of upper water-sections being shown at 14, and the Water-return pipe at 15. Such furnace will of course be provided with the ordinary fuel-feed and ashpit doors. These appurtenances I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate.

The present invention consists in locating between the base-ring and the fire-pot proper an annular air-flue 19, the inner wall of which forms a continuation downward of the walls of the fire-chamber.

In carrying this invention into effect I interpose between the base-ring 10 and the firepot 12 a ring 16, resting upon the former and supporting the latter, an inner ring 17, of.

slightly less height than the ring 16, being also mounted upon the base-ring and being of the same diameter as the fire-pot. The effect of this construction is to raise the firepot and its superstructure and increase the depth of the fire-pot. The outer ring 16 is provided with an air-port 20, controlled by a damper 21, and there is an annular airport above the inner ring 17, opening from the flue 19 into the fire-box. The ring 16 may be cast in a single piece. The ring 17 is preferably cast in sections, so that it may be introduced through the fire-door after the ring 16 has been set.

Any suitable means may be provided for supporting the several sections of. the ring 17, so that they will not move backwardly. I show for this purpose a simple metal plate 22, slightly curved to U form, its length being equal to the distance between the rings 16 and 17. By locating a plate of this kind upon the base-ring 10, immediately back of each one of the sections of the ringl7, the latter are firmly secured in place, as they can not fall inwardly because of their contact with each other.

The damper 21 may be controlled in any desired manner. I have shown it as being provided with a simple lift-rod 23, adapted to hook in an eye 24, formed upon the extorior of the ring 16. As this damper will control the. air-supply to the furnace, it may, if desired, be controlled by means of an automatic regulator. I have not deemed it necessary to show such device, as they are in common use in connection with furnacedampers.

In practice the most active combustion is maintained adjacent to the walls of the firepot instead of at the center of the fire-box, as is the case when the air-supply is through the grate. The ash resulting from such combustion settles down upon and falls through the grate without at all interfering with the air-feed, and the port 18 is of sufficient capacity to provide a greater volume of air than is consumed in the initial combustion, so that there ascends with the gases generated an ample quantity of oxygen to combine with the carbon to form carbonic-acid gas. As the flue l9 surrounds the fire-box, the air therein becomes highly heated before passing through the port 18, and this result is more effectually secured by reason of the fact that the flue may be very commodious, so that the air passes through it slowly. As the air enters the fire-box well heated, it is quickly and certainly raised to the high temperature necessary to combine with the carbon, so that by means of the construction described the conditions suitable to practically complete combustion of the fuel are present.

A very important feature of the invention is its extreme simplicity and its adaptability to furnaces already in service, it being merely necessary to fashion the two rings 16 and 17 so as to conform to the pattern of furnace to which they are to be applied.

I claim as my invention- 1. In afurnace for heaters, in combination, a base-ring, a fuel-support mounted therein, a hollow flue-casing mounted on the base-ring and forming the side walls of the lower portion of the fire-chamber, such casing having an air-inlet port and opening to the fire-chamber entirely around the same and near the plane of the grate; and a fire-pot extending upwardly from such flue-casing, whereby a full air-supply may be introduced into the fire-chamber and into the mass of fuel contained therein without passing any part of such supply through the grate or ash-pit of the furnace.

2. In a furnace for heaters, the combination with a base-ring carrying a grate and a firepot; of a ring resting upon the base-ring and upon which the fire-pot is mounted, and having an air-inlet port; and an inner ring resting upon the base-ring, and of less height than and spaced apart from the outer ring and forming a continuation downwardly of the fire-pot, whereby an annular air-flue is formed around the bottom of the fire-box and opens thereto through which the supply of air for combustion of the fuel is delivered laterally into the fire-chamber near its bottom.

3. As an article of manufacture, a hollow casing adapted to be interposed between the grate-supporting base of a furnace and the fire-pot thereof and forming a continuation downwardly of the latter, such casing having an inwardly-opening port, and a port for admitting air to its chamber.

4:. As an article of manufacture,a fire-chamber for heating furnaces having its walls formed of upper and lower sections spaced apart to form an air-passage below the normal level of the fuel and of sufficient size to supply the full quantity of air essential to substantially complete combustion of the fuel, the upper section being hollow to contain water and the lower section forming the inner wall of an air-flue.

5. In a furnace for heaters, in combination, a fire-chamber having its Walls formed of upper and lower sections spaced apart below the normal level of the fuel to form an air-flue, and a casing inclosing the lower section to form a passage leading to such flue and having an external air-port; whereby a full sup ply of air for combustion may be delivered laterally into the fire-chamber.

6. In a furnace for heaters, in combination, a grate-support, a fuel-support mounted thereon, a flue-casing forming the side walls of the lower portion of the fire-chamber and having ports in its inner and outer walls, and a fire-pot extending upwardly from the easing; whereby a full supply of air for combustion may be delivered laterally into the firechamber below the normal level of the fuel.

7. In a furnace for heaters, in combination, a grate-support, a grate mounted thereon, a flue-casing forming the side walls of the lower portion of the fire-chamber and having ports in its inner and outer walls, and a fire-pot extending upwardly from the port of the inner wall and being hollow to contain water, whereby a supply of hot air adequate for complete combustion may be delivered laterally into the fire-chamber below the normal level of the fuel.

CHARLES E. THOMPSON.

In presence of- E. M. KLA'roHER, PAUL CARPENTER. 

